Asean Wraps Up Big Year with Bang in Bali, Now What?

NUSA DUA — Under Indonesia’s chairmanship this year, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations shot from side show to center stage of East Asian diplomacy. But what happens next year when the 10-nation talk show is hosted by one of its less mighty members: Cambodia?

Reuters

Indonesia asked to host this year as sort of a victory lap to show it is healthy, happy and ready to start pulling the weight and respect it thinks it deserves in the world. Its economy is booming, its democracy is working and it wants its geopolitical profile to reflect that it has the world’s fourth largest population and the biggest economy in Southeast Asia.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.